Rotor flying machine



Dec. 1o, 1935. DORMER 2,023,760

ROTOR FLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 1 De.1, 1935. C,DORMER Y 2,023,160

ROTOR FLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1934 4 Sheei-cs-Sheet 2 Dec. 10,1935. c. DoRNlER 2,023,760

ROTOR FLYING MACHINE Dec. 10, 1935. D0RN|ER 2,023,760*

ROTOR FLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1954 4 sheets-snee; 4

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essence oec. 1o, 193s PATENT oFFlcE 2,023,160 KOTOR FLYING MACHINEClaude Dornier, Friedrichshafen, Germany Application January 10, 1934,Serial No. 706,090 In Germany January 16, 1933 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a flying machine, more particularly to a dyingmachine having, instead of stationary wings mounted to the fuselage, asystem of rotating hereinafter shortly called rotors adapted to move themachine horizontally, vertically or on an inclined course. Instead ofone rotor, I can employ a plurality of rotors having parallel axes, e.g., in conneetion with large iiying machines. The rotors are vpowerdriven but can be disconnected from the source of power, e. g., when themachine descends.

An object of this invention resides in the provision'of a flying machinehaving only one power driven means for actively propelling the machinein a horizontal as well asin a vertical direction.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a ying machinehaving only one means for lifting and propelling the machine, said meansbeing arranged adjacent to the main body of the machine.

An object of this invention resides in the pro-V vision of a lifting andpropelling rotor system for iiying machines assuring utmost ease inoperation and air-cushioned vibrationless motion.

An. object of this invention resides in the provision of a ilyingmachine having an adjustable fuselage assuring a most convenientconguration of the fuselage for landing, loading and unloading purposesand the most emcient outside contour for dying.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a collapsiblefuselage for ying machines providing a contour and dimensions securinggreatest flying eiiiciency and eiciency of the rudder and balancingapparatus and, at the same time, a most convenient form of the fuselagefor landing, loading, unloading and hangaring.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a flying machinehaving a telescoping fuselage adapted to assure best operating andmaneuvering eiciency and also smallest and most suitable shape forlanding, starting, loading, unloading and hangaring.

An object of Y this invention resides in the provision of a livingmachine of such comiguration as to assure best equilibrium and balancingconditions.

An'ohject of this invention resides in the provision of a flying machinehaving novel adjustable means for assuring best equilibrium andbalancing conditicns.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafterset forth in the aoshape of companying specification and claims andshown in the drawings which, by way of illustration, show what I nowconsider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic side according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a flying machine according to my invention withbody for receiving passengers, load,l running gear and other details l.attached.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine illustrated by Fig. 2.

Fig.- 4 is a part cross sectional side view of a modification of a.flying machine according to my 1l invention;

Fig. 5 is an isometric illustration of a large seaplane according to myinvention.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal part cross sectional View of a wing systemaccording to my invention show- 20 ing the mechanism for adjusting thewing control surfaces in particular.

Fig. 'l is a transverse part cross sectional view substantially alongline 1--1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a. top view of a rotating wing system according to myinvention.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are part sectional side views of flying machinesaccording to my invention illustrating certain details. v

I shall now proceed to generally describe the 30 underlying ideas of myinvention with the assistance of the diagrammatic sketch Fig. 1. Howthese ideas can be can'ied out practically will be 'described later withthe assistance of Figs. 2 to 11 which illustrate preferred embodimentsof my 35 invention.

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a flying machine according to myinvention omitting the showing of the motor drive, provisions forcarrying passengers and freight and the undercarriage i0 o'r oats. Atits front end, the body l has a system of rotating lift-producing wings2 henceforth called rotor. At the lower rear end oi body i is the tailunit consisting of the tail n 3, the rudder l, a tail plane 5, and anelevator 45 When ying in horizontal direction the axis 00 around whichrotor 2 rotates is inclined. It forms an angle a with the horizon whichis open in'the direction of the night and is always larger than 0 andsmaller than 90. Body I has the 50 a spindle the longitudinal axis ofwhich substantially coincides with the rotating axis of wing system orrotor 2. In practice the shape of body I deviates more or less from thatof a true spindle, as will be described later. Instead 0S view of themachine of one rotor, a plurality of co-axial and pairwisecounterrotating rotors can be employed, as shown in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 708,395. Large machines can be provided withoutriggers each equipped with one or a plurality of rotating wingsystems, wherein the axes of the individual rotors are parallel withrespect to one another. 'Ihe tail unit which is at or near the rear endof spindle body I is preferably located in the air current discharged bythe rotor; the stabilizers 5 constituting the elevator can be operatedfrom the pilots seat, whereby the angle of attack can be changed atwill. AThe connections required for this operation are not shown in thedrawings because the mechanism is well known in the art. As is obviousfrom Fig. 1, the vertical component IOI of the force |02 generated byrotor 2 acts on the system at the small distance |03 from the center ofgravity I 04 of the cording to my. invention and equipped with un- 20system; while the vertical component |05 of the force |06 resulting fromthe elevator unit acts on the system at the much greater distance |01from the center of gravity |04 of the system. The weight of the flyingmachine is thus chiefly carried by the rotor and only a small part of itis carried by the tail unit; the lift power of the tail unit can beadjusted by adjustment of the angle of attack in order to keep themachine balanced at various operating conditions. As will be describedlater, a disconnectable coupling is provided between rotor 2 and themotor driving it and not shown on Fig. 1; the rotor is of suchdimensions that, when light running, i. e., when the before mentionedcoupling is disconnected, it rotates by itself in such va direction andat such a speed as to assure a. descending speed suitable for landing.The wings of the rotor are adjustable in well known manner permitting an.adjustment of their power absorbing capacity in accordance with thechange of the inclination of the revolving axis with respect to thehorizontal. It is also advisable to provide flaps on the rear edges ofthe wings or auxiliary wings at the end of the main rotating wings, theposition of said aps and/ or wings being automatically controlled sothat the work of each rotating wing periodically changes during eachrevolution; the extent of this change can be adjusted, as will bedescribed later. Rotary systems of this type greatly assist the tailunit at the rear end of the fuselage with respect to maintaining theying machine in properly balanced condition. For the same purpose,particularly for counterbalancing the torque of the rotor, stationaryand/or movable means may be provided at greatest possible distance fromthe axis of symmetry of the machine. 'I'hese means can be arranged onthe undercarriage or the floats and can be adjustable during the nightand of such conguration as to generate air pressure and/or currents tobalance the torque of the motor and to serve forY other stabilizingpurposes. Bodies acting in the aforesaid manner can, at the same time,be used for covering parts of the machine which must be protected fromthe ying wind such as, e. g., the wheels of the undercarriage. This willalso be described later.

As already. stated, it is not always possible to design the fuselage intrue spindle shape because of the necessity of providing room forpassengers,

freight, motors etc. For this purpose 'I provide'a goiter-like body onthe lower front side ofthe spindle, said body having the shape of arightangled triangle the hypotenus'e of which is the ro-4 tating axis ofthe rotor, the bottom of said body being one cathetus of said triangle,the latter being in a substantially horizontal position before startingand when flying in a horizontal direction. The body has a streamlineconfiguration which follows the air stream resulting from the forwardmovement of the machine'and the air current generated by the rotor. Thegoiter-like extension permits entirely free vision for the pilotforwards and downwards. The motor is disposed either in the rear part ofsaid triangle-shaped body or adjacent to the rotor. 10

The rotor or rotors can be driven by one or a plurality of shaftsconnected to gears driven by the motor. These gears can be locatedeither close to the rotor or to the motor. If a great ratio oftransmission is required, instead of one gear, 15 several gears can beinstalled some of which are disposed near the motor or motors and othersnear the rotor or rotors. l

Fig. 2 is a side view of a flying machine acdercarriage and cabin forthe passengers.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same machine. The spindle shaped body 1carries at its front end a rotor consisting of wings |01 and I 08 therevolving axis of which is inclined with respect to the 25 horizontal bythe angle a. The ends of the wings |01 and |08 of the rotor are equippedwith adjustable flaps 8 and 9. If they are so adjusted that they bothproject from.the same side of the planeof rotation of the wing system,they 30 aid in increasing the lift of the whole rotor. If one approjectson one side and the other flap on the other side of the plane ofrotation of the wing system and if the position of the ilaps isperiodically changed in known manner during 35 each revolution, theequilibrium of the flying machine can be affected. The motor driving therotor is disposed adjacent to the rotor underneath an annular hood I0.The tail unit is attached to the rear end of the fuselage and con- 40sists of the side n I I, the side rudder I2, the tail plane I3, theangle of attack of which can be adjusted during the ight, and theelevator Il. At the lower front side of the spindle-shaped body is theextension I5 serving as room for pas- 45 sengers and freight. Theoutside contour of the side view of this extension is substantially likea rightangled triangle. Body I5 has streamline configuration,particularly in the planes designated by the dotted lines I 09, I I0 andIII which 50 are vertical with respect to the sheet of drawings and arein the direction of the air flow resultant from the forward movement ofthe machine and the air current discharged by the rotor. For resting onthe ground the machine is provided 55 with a spur I6 and anundercarriage with wheels I1. Wheels I1 are covered by covers I8. Thesecovers together with the streamlined bodies I9 which are revolvablearound vertical axes II2 generate air forces by their form and/oradjust- 60 ment which counteract the torque of the rotor or produceother stabilizing effects.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a ilying machine using myinvention in a modified way inasmuch as the motor 25 is arranged in 65the rear of the rl om for the passengers and freight and stands on aplane common with the floor plane of said room. The body 20 carries therotor 2| at its front end. The longitudinal axis I|3 of body 20 does notcoincide with the 70 rotating shaft 28 of the rotor. In order to obtainthe greatest distance possible between the tail unit and the rotor andin order to reduce the height of the flying machine, the longitudinalvolvingaxis of the rotor, and the rear end of body 28 is slightly curvedupwards resulting in a saddle-like configuration of the back of body 20.The wings of rotor 2l are provided at their ends with aps 22 which aremovable and adjustable so that they may be projected from differentsides of the plane of rotation of the rotor. They are adapted toperiodically change their position in known manner during eachrevolution and to thereby periodically increase or decrease the liftingforce of the individual wing. Other naps 23 are provided and locatedcloser to the hub of the rotor; these flaps 23 both project from oneside ofthe plane of rotation, and the degree of projection can beadjusted. This adjustment causes a change of the lifting power of thewhole proy peller. These ilaps permit the adjustment of the work done bythe rotor as required by a change of the angle a, i. e., the angleformed by the axis of the rotor and the horizon. Below body 20 is anextension `24 adapted to receive passengers or freight. The rotor isdriven by motor 25 via gear 28 located adjacent to the motor, thedisconnectable coupling 21 and shaft 28. Motor, coupling and gear arein`one chamber which is on the same plane as the room for thepassengers. The ying machine as illustrated is built as a land plane andis provided with landing wheels.

Fig. 5 is a perspective illustration' of a flying machine differingvfrom the previously described machines in regard to its size and theprovision of fioats 29 instead of landing wheels and the provision oftwo rotors instead of one. The floats are connected with the fuselage bya frame work in the usual and known manner. The motor is located in thelower part of body ||3 and in the rear of the passenger and/or freightroom IM, as was the case in the machine shown by Fig. 4.

The power is transmitted by shaft ||5 to the front end of body I3 andtherefrom over a bevel gear to shafts 3| and via further bevel gearscovered by hub bodies IIB to the rotors 30. The reduction of speed ofthe motor to that required by the rotors can thus be convenientlydistributed over a plurality of gears. The rotor wings are equipped witha system of flaps projectable from both sides of the plane of rotationand a system of ilaps projecting only from one side of the plane ofrotation, as is done in the machine shown on Fig. 4. Streamlined bodies32 are disposed on top of oats 29 and adapted to be rotated around thevertical shafts which serve at the same time to support the rotors 30.These bodies 32 can be adjusted as to -their position by the pilot bymeans of lever I|8 rigidly connected to the body and shafting H9extending into the pilots cabin Hd. Bodies 32 serve by theirconfiguration and position to stabilize the flying machine.'

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate in detail the mechanism for operating theflaps 22 and 23 in the manner stated `in the foregoing paragraphs., Iwish it to be understood that the mechanism shown is only one of thepossible ways to materialize the object of providing the wings of arotor with a system of flaps vadjustable While the rotor is inoperation. and adapted to affect the lift power ofthe rotor and to actas balancing means whereby the balancing eiect can also be adjustedwhile the rotor is in operation. The system substan, tially consists ofa pair of flaps 22 and 23 in each wing 2|. Flaps 22 can be turned toproject above main wing 2| or below it, as is obvious from Fig. 7. Flaps22 are connected to s'hafts 88 which are provided with cranks 86 and 81respectively. The

end of these cranks has the formation of claws |22 adapted to slidablyengage disc which does not take part in the rotation of the rotor. Aslong as this disc is in a position parallel to shafts 88, the positionof iiaps 22 with respect to wings 2| will 5 be maintained. The angle ofthe aps with respect to the wings can be changed by moving disc 85 up ordown. If, however, the disc is held in an inclined position, the angleof aps 22 with respect to wings 2| will continually change during 10each revolution of the rotor. This can be carried so far that the apsperiodically project underneath and above wings 2|. The lift power ofthe wing will thus continually change during each revolution of therotor, being largest at a certain 15 A position of the rotor and beingsmallest at the diametrically opposite position. The degree of theinclination of disc 85 can be adjusted while the whole system is inoperation by manipulating lever 88. This rotates around fulcrum 8lcarried 20 by support 82 which is located in the fuselage of the iiyingmachine. At equal distance from and at both sides of the fulcrum 8|,rods 83 and 84 are linked to lever 88; the other end of these rods islinked to disc 85. All this can readily be seen 25 from Fig. 6 and alsohow disc 85 is adjusted by moving the handle of lever 80 up or down.

Flaps 23, which need not change their position during each revolution ofthe rotor, are mounted to the hollow shafts 90 and 9| which have cranks30 82 and 93 respectively. Each crank has a claw |23 slidablycooperating with disc 94. 'I'his disc is rigidly connected to shaft andcan be moved up and down by operating lever 91, swinging around fulcrum96 and having on one end a fork 35 |24; this fork cooperates withprojection 25 of shaft 95. For instance, by depressing the left end oflever 91, the fork end pushes shaft 85 and with it disc 94 and cranks 32and 83' upwards; thereby shaft 9| is turned clockwise and shaft 38 40counterclockwise, when observing this operation on Fig. 7, and bothiiaps 23 are moved in such a Way as to further project from the bottomside of wings 2| and increase their lift power. Fig. 8, which is a topview of a rotor provided with ad 45 justable flaps, further assists toillustrate the foregoing. Like numerals on this gure and Figs. 6 and 7indicate like parts and render Fig. 8 self-explanatory. v

To obtain an absolutely smooth operation of the 50 rotor and toeliminate percussions, a hollow rotor can be provided having aperturesat the ends of the wings or near the ends, and the rotor can be drivenby the reactive action of an air current flowing from the hollow hub ofthe rotor through 55' the hollow wings and said apertures or in oppositedirection. This air current is generated by a blower driven by the motorwhich is arranged integral with the rotor, as will be more 'particularlydescribed later. If such a pneumatic drive of the rotor is employed,provision of a. brake for the rotor is essential. The air current isalso used for cooling the motor or motors directly or for `re coolingthe cooling water.

Fig. 9 illustrates a flying machine of the same 65 type as illustratedby Fig. 4 but having a rotor operated by the reactive force of an aircurrent. Rotor 33 is hollow and has at its ends apertures 34 and 35through which air is eitherblown out of or taken into the interior ofthe rotor wings. 0

A motor 38 is located in the lower part of body 3l having asaddle-shaped concaveiy curved back and in the rear of extension 36. Viagear 38 and the disconnectable coupling 40, the motor drie-'es shaft Mcarrying the rotor I2 of the blower. 75

Shaft 4| is carried by the bearings 43 and 44. With its ball-shaped end|20; blower 42 extends into the interior of rotor 33 which is equippedwith a projecting part 45 of such configuration as to facilitate the airow between the blower and the interior of the rotor. Rotor 33 is carriedby the fuselage by the axial and radial bearing 46, The air is taken inthrough channel 41 provided ,within body 31 and is forced by blower 42into the hollow rotor 33 and leaves this rotor through the apertures 34and/or 35 which are placed at the rear edge of the rotor wings.'l Theair flow can alsobe reversed and the air taken in through openingslocated near the edge of the rotor wings and discharged through channel41. In this case, the openings must be arranged in the front edge of thewings. In both cases the air passesthrough a cooler.48 which isconnected with the cooling jacket of motor 38 by conduits |26 and |21and acts as cooler for the cooling agent of the motor.v

Fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment of my invention using the pneumaticreaction type rotor drive and an air cooled motor 54 driving the airpump 50 and located adjacent thereto. Blower 50 is rotatably carried bybearings 5I and 52. 'Ihe air taken in or exhausted by the blower passesthrough channel 53 in which the motor is located thereby directlycooling' the motor. A guide 55 for the air is provided in the interiorof rotor 49.

'I'he fuselage of the machine illustrated by Fig. Hl consists of a frontpart B to which a rear part 58 carrying thetail unit is movablylinked bymeans of the hinge 51. During the flight rear part 58 is held in theposition indicated by the dotted lines 58' by means of the spring member59. When landing the spur wheel 60 at the rear end of part 58 rests onthe ground thereby bending the rear end 53 upwards against the action ofspring 59 and as far as the stop 6| permits. This arrangement providesthat the main body of the fuselage is close to the ground when thevmachine is landed and that the tail unit is at an efficientdistancefrom the center of. gravity of the'machine and the rotor whenflying.

Fig. 11 illustrates a flying machine according to my invention having amotor driven rotor 64 the motor being adjacent to the rotor and under ahood 65 as is the case in the machine illustrated -by Fig. 2. Thespindle-shaped part of the fuse--l lage consists of two parts 62 and 63concentrically arranged within one another. The front part 62 carriesthe rotor 64 driven by the air cooled motor located underneath theannular hood 65 which guides the cooling air and improves its coolingroller 68 mounted to and within part 62 to the ess, design andconstruction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A dying machine comprising a substantially 5 spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends, a rotor producing lift and propelling power rotatablyconnected to one end of said body and a tail unit connected to the otherend of said body, said body being inclined when ying in a substantiallyhorizontal direction whereby the elevation of said rotor is greater thanthat of said tail unit, and a compartment protruding forwards anddownwards from said b ody and adapted to receivel passengers andfreight.

2. A fiying machine comprising a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends, a rotor producing lift and propelling power rotatablyconnected to one end of said body, and a tail unit connected to theother end of said body, said body being inclined when fiying in asubstantially horizontal direction whereby the elevation of said rotoris greater than that of said tail unit, and a compartment protrudingdownwards and forwards from said body and adapted to receive passengersand freight, said compartment having a bottom and a front wall, thelongitudinal extension of said compartment having an outside contourforming a substantially rectangular triangle one cathetus of which isformed by the bottom of said compartment thc other cathetus by the frontwall of said compartment, and the hypotenuse by said body.

3. A flying machine comprising a substani tially spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends, a 3,-, rotor supplying lift and propelling power forsaid ying machine and rotatably connected to one end of said body, and atail unit connected to the other end ofsaid body, said body beinginclined when ying in a substantially horizontal direction, and acompartment protruding forwards and downwards from said body and adaptedto receive passengers and freight, and outriggersprotruding from saidcompartment, said outriggers carrying running wheels.

4. A flying machine comprising a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends, a rotor supplying lift and propelling power for saidflying machine and rotatably connected to one end of said body, and atail unit connected to the other end of said body, said body beinginclined when flying in a substantially horizontal direction, anda'compartment protruding forwards and downwards from said body andadapted to receive passengers and freight, and outriggers protrudingdownwards and sidewards from said compartment, said outriggers carryingfloats.

5. A flying machine consisting substantially of a plurality of lift andpropelling power producing rotors, a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving a goiter-like extension protruding forwards and downwards fromsaid body and adapted to receive passengers and freight, outriggersconnected to and carried by said body, said outriggers carryingadjustable stabilizers and said 35 rotors.

6. A flying machine consisting .substantially of a plurality of lift andpropelling power producing rotors, a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving a goiter-like extension protruding downwards and forwards fromsaid body and adapted to receive passengers and freight, outriggersconnected to and carried by said body, said outriggers carryingadjustable stabilizers and said rotors, apower plant located within saidbody,

and power transmitting means connecting said power plant and saidrotors.

7. A flying machine comprising a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends,` a rotor producing lift and propelling power rotatablyconnected to one end of said body, and a tail unit connected to theother end of saidbody, said bodybeing inclined when flying in asubstantially horizontal direction, whereby the elevation of said rotoris greater than that of said tail unit, and a compartment protrudingdownwards from said body and adapted to receive passengers and freight.

8. A iiying machine comprising a substantially spindle-shaped bodyhaving two ends, a rotor producing lift and propelling power rotatablyconnected to one end of said body, a tail unit connected to the otherend of said body, said body being inclined when flying in asubstantially horizontal direction, whereby the elevation of said rotoris greater than that of said tail unit, and a compartment protrudingforwards from -said body and adapted to receive passengers and freight.

9. A flying machine comprising a body being inclined when flying in asubstantially horizontal direction, a rotor connected to and supplyinglift and propelling power to said machine, a compartment protrudingdownwards from said body and being adapted to receive 'tal direction.. arotor connected to and supplypassengers and freight, and outriggersprotruding from said compartment and carrying-stabilizers. 1

10. A flying machine comprising a body being inclined when flying in asubstantially horizoning litt and propelling power to said machine, acompartment protruding downwards from said body and being adapted toreceive passengers and freight, and outriggers protruding downwards andsidewards from said compartment and carrying adjustable stabilizers.

11. A ilying machine comprising lift producing means, a body inclinedwhen ying iny a substantially horizontal direction, a compartmentprotruding downwards from said body and 15 being adapted to receivepassengers and freight, and outriggers protruding from said body and'compartment and carrying said lift producing means.

l2. A ying machine comprising supporting means, litt producing means, abody inclined when ying in a substantially horizontal direction, acompartment protruding downwards from said bo'dy and being adapted toreceive freight and passengers, and outriggers protruding from saidbody, said outriggers carrying said supporting and lift producing means.

CLAUDE DORNIER. so

